It's spooky Halloween and this month, Jonah and Smera are joined by experts in digital culture and heritage, Dr. Jenny Kidd of Cardiff University and Dr Eva Nieto McAvoy of King’s College London, to explore the eerie intersection of AI and digital immortality. Plus, Jonah and Smera break down the basics of quantum computing amid claims that 2025 is going to be a breakthrough year for the field, and the pair take a look at how AI is helping job seekers find work.

Topics discussed in this episode:   

[00:00 - 01:00 ] Introduction and summary of topics

[01:00 - 06:00 ] Discussion on how AI is changing the way we remember and interact with the dead

[06:00 - 11:00 ] Exploration of personal digital remains and AI-powered "death bots"

[11:00 - 16:00 ] Emotional impact and ethical questions around using AI to reanimate the dead

[16:00 - 21:00 ] Legal and practical considerations around ownership and control of digital remains

[21:00 - 26:00 ] Potential parallels between digital remains and organ donation

[26:00 - 31:00 ] Explanation of quantum computing and its potential applications

[31:00 - 36:00 ] Concerns around quantum computing's impact on digital security and encryption

[36:00 - 43:00 ] Discussion on the use of AI in job application and recruitment processes

[43:00 - 46:00 ] Concluding thoughts and show information

Resources mentioned in this episode:    

[01:00 - 16:00 ]  Digital Death 

• Jenny and Eva Research - Synthetic Pasts


• Digital Death Conference

[26:00 - 31:00 ] Quantum Computing 

• 2025 is Q year


• Quantum will have ChatGPT moment soon 


• A guide to QC


• Hannah Fry explore QC (video)

[36:00 - 43:00 ]  AI and Job applications 

• 404 story 


• Layoffs sweeping tech companies


• AI recruiting will be a game changer 


• Optimise CV for AI